Bracing for the Tabb-York rematch

Marty O'Brien247-4963

For York High's football program, and particularly for quarterback Ben Edwards, last season's 49-48 triple-overtime win over Tabb is the sweetest memory from a good season — one that ended a few points shy of a playoff berth.

For Tabb, which surrendered a 28-0 lead in the final two minutes of the third quarter to lose to its York County rival, the defeat was the most forgettable moment in a season that saw the Tigers make the playoffs for the first time in 15 years.

York (1-0) and Tabb (0-1) return to the scene of what some consider the best game in Bay Rivers District history, Bailey Field, when they meet at 7:30 tonight. Predictably, York views last year's game as more relevant to this year than Tabb.

"Last year is a (motivational) consideration, but a small one," Tabb coach Matt Lawson said. "We have a lot of new players who weren't a part of that game.

"The key thing is that it's a district game, and I don't think you can lose more than one district game and expect to make the (Division 4) playoffs."

Lawson and the Tigers are looking to rebound from a lopsided season-opening loss to Amherst, which scored many of its points on eight Tabb turnovers. To win, the Tigers will have to stop Edwards, who scored seven touchdowns in the comeback last season.

Edwards ran for 267 yards and five touchdowns in the Falcons' 51-48 season-opening win over Greensville County. He threw 20 yards for the winning TD with seven-tenths of a second to play.

"The Tabb game changed my life, and my football career in particular," Edwards said. "I had no idea anything like that could ever happen.

"Because of the Tabb game, we had hope at the end of the Greensville game."

Storylines TWO-WAY STAR

Evan Moog was the star of the game in Jamestown's 14-13 overtime win last week over John Marshall. Moog ran for 142 yards and starred as a linebacker on a defense that limited the Justices to 65 rushing yards.

A tip of the hat, also, to kicker Max Zaun. Points after touchdown in high school are rarely automatic, so Zaun's booting the game-winner is worth noting.

PASSED OVER

Quarterbacks Ben Edwards (York) and Nate Kepa (Lafayette) have gotten the most press for the roles they played in their teams' opening victories.

Let's not overlook Grafton junior Joe Cibrin. Cibrin has thrown for the most yards in the district so far, going 11-of-18 for 175 yards and a TD in a 53-6 win over Surry County.

EAGLES' CONCERN

Jamestown coach Ryan Turnage preaches defense, ball control and minimal mistakes, so the five turnovers in the 14-13 win over John Marshall are a concern. Turnage expects the Eagles to improve on that stat quickly and credited his players for finding a way to win despite the high number of giveaways.

BIG NUMBER

5.1Grafton running back Ryan Johansen's average yards per carry in running for 136 yards and three touchdowns in the 53-6 win over Surry County.